South Florida Consortium Internship Program

The South Florida Consortium Internship Program (SFCIP) was developed by the Center for Psychological Studies of Nova Southeastern University in response to the shortage of quality pre-doctoral internship sites in South Florida. By creating this consortium of community clinical facilities and an academic environment we not only provide new internship sites but also satisfy the Center for Psychological Studies' tripartite mission of research, training, and service. In the fall of 1996, Nova Southeastern University's South Florida Consortium Internship Program (SFCIP) was awarded membership in the Association of Psychology and Postdoctoral Internship Centers (APPIC). In 2002, after the usual comprehensive review by APPIC, the SFCIP's membership was extended for another three years.

The Center for Psychological Studies (CPS) sponsors the Consortium. Located on the main campus of Nova Southeastern University, the Center has 34 full-time faculty and offers master's programs in mental health counseling and school guidance, and counseling, a specialist program in school psychology, two American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral programs in clinical psychology (Ph.D. and Psy. D.), and a postdoctoral master's program in clinical psychopharmacology. In addition, CPS operates the Psychology Services Center and an APA-approved Continuing Education program that interns are encouraged to attend.

The SFCIP is managed through an Executive Board (EB) which is composed of the Dean of CPS, or his designate, the Consortium's director of training (DOT), an intern representative, the supervising psychologist at each training site, and a management representative from each training site. The EB is responsible for the development of SFCIP policy, the integrity of the program, and the oversight of psychology training and selection of interns. An Operations Committee composed of the site supervisors, the director of training, and an intern representative, serves as the management arm of the Executive Board. It meets monthly to monitor and manage the overall functioning of the SFCIP to ensure to that the interns receive sufficient and appropriate training.

The organizational structure of providing community settings, supervised by on-site licensed, experienced psychologists, who represent various therapeutic models including cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic backgrounds, makes a unique learning opportunity for the interns while joining the university’s mission to provide community mental health services in the community.

The SFCIP’s principal goal is to enable doctoral candidates in psychology to develop proficiency in the execution of a broad range of clinical, supervisory, and administrative functions in community settings. It is the Executive Board's philosophy to place emphasis on encouraging the acquisition of "generalist" skills rather than narrowly defined specialties. The program is designed to provide instruction and experience in a wide spectrum of functions engaged in by licensed psychologists at each particular Consortium site, supplemented by academic and research support through the CPS. It is the Consortium's objective to provide the intern with experience in therapy, evaluation, consultation, and supervision.

Upon completion of the training year, it is expected that the intern is able to demonstrate skills and good judgment in the performance of duties as a psychologist. The comprehensive training experience is to enable interns to function competently and autonomously as ethical psychologists in a variety of settings.

The community-based training sites that form the SFCIP provide an array of clinically and culturally diverse populations that offer our interns supervised clinical training and experience during a one-year placement at one of the three Consortium sites. Services include behavioral medicine, forensic psychology, individual and family therapy, group therapy, assessment, and crisis intervention in a number of inpatient and outpatient community settings.

Approximately twenty-five percent of the intern's time is dedicated to direct clinical service. The particular activities and cases comprising the intern's direct service time are negotiated with the intern's clinical supervisors. The activities will vary somewhat for each individual depending upon his or her training site, particular interests, and training needs. In order to provide exposure to a broad range of clinical experiences and modalities, all interns are required to gain experience in the following areas:

1. Psychotherapy: Interns are required to work in a variety of modalities, which may include individual, marital, family, and group. Patient population ordinarily will include diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups, ages, and ranges of pathology.

2. Clinical Evaluation: Interns generally complete one clinical interview per week to provide a means of refining diagnostic and treatment planning skills.

3. Psychological Testing: Interns perform psychological tests based on intern interests, patient's need and site requirements.

4. Consultation/Education: Interns participate in supervised consultation/education projects based on site needs and trainee interest. This may include lectures, staff in-service training, and consultation within a multi disciplinary setting.

5. Clinical Supervision: Interns have the opportunity to provide individual and group supervision to practicum students, which is in turn supervised by the psychology training staff. This activity typically occurs in the latter half of the internship year. In sites where there are no practicum students, interns provide some supervision and training to the staff at their internship site.

While the sites may not be in close proximity to one another, ordinarily interns meet regularly for seminars, grand rounds and professional development training. The Consortium's Executive Board seeks to promote intern interaction between sites.

Interns receive two hours of individual face-to-face clinical supervision each week from the licensed clinical psychologist located at the internship site. Supervision is provided in an atmosphere that respects the intern's level of development and may include the use of audio and videotapes. Supervisors are responsible for providing interns with quarterly written feedback regarding their clinical functioning and progress; informal verbal feedback is provided on an ongoing basis.

Weekly professional development training and case conferences are an integral part of the program and provide additional clinical supervision in group settings. Seminars and case conferences are held at both the internship site and at the university. Topics include case review and supervision by Dr. Lane, professional development, special populations, and ethical issues. Topics may be presented based on intern interest. Additional supervision and guidance in areas of special interest to the intern may be arranged through the DOT and CPS. The university library and computer labs are available to interns.

In the case of complaint or grievance, interns have access to the ordered grievance procedures established by the SFCIP. The Executive Board is the final arbiter. In the years that the SFCIP has been in operation any and all problems were satisfactorily resolved.

BGMC has been serving Broward County residents since 1938 and it is the most complete medical referral center in the county. Each year, BGMC admits approximately 24,000 patients, deliver 4000 babies and handle more than 75,000 emergencies. BGMC is also one of only three Level 1 trauma facilities in South Florida. Interns will have experiences in trauma services, pediatrics, behavioral health, family medicine, oncology, palliative care, and wellness programs. Opportunities for individual consultation, psychological testing, short-term solution focused therapy and family therapy are available with a wide range of patients. BGMC also offers weekly lectures, presentations, and Grand Rounds, which Interns are encouraged to attend. Interns at this site will provide lectures to medical residents, staff, and students and may also participate in the supervision of psychology practicum students.

The Chrysalis Center is a for profit organization that provides mental health and support services to children, adolescents and families of Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties, whom are experiencing an array of needs including those that are emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric in nature. Our programs serve to ensure the most favorable outcome possible for children who are living in the aftermath of child abuse or neglect. Our goal is to help children transcend the trauma of early childhood abuse, learn appropriate personal behavior, and provide the opportunity to pursue healthy, productive lives.

The intensive therapeutic on-site services provide children and adolescents with intensive mental health services at their locations. The STARRT out-patient program focuses only on treating children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior. STEPS features the development of therapeutic programs on-location at schools, preschools, and childcare centers providing comprehensive services to children and families in their daily living environments. Therapeutic group homes provide comprehensive services to clients needing more intensive levels of mental health care. The children living at our shelters have been removed from their home either by the state child welfare agency, action on dependency petition or are awaiting placement after a court disposition has occurred. Interns will have the opportunity to provide clinical services to all of these groups, as well attend and direct multidisciplinary staffings of child sexual abuse cases. Interns are provided with the opportunities to conduct individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, crisis intervention, and full psychological evaluations, psychosexual evaluations, and follow up assessments. In addition, interns will provide in-service training, and provide ongoing supervision to practicum students.

The Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Detention operates the thirteenth largest local jail system in the nation-with five fully accredited facilities. One facility operates a 250-bed mental health unit that provides interns a unique training opportunity in forensic mental health services. Interns will have the opportunity to conduct individual and group psychotherapy, crisis-intervention, and psychological evaluations. The interns will work with a broad range of disorders, work as a part of a multidisciplinary team faced with challenging behavior management issues, and be exposed to how the criminal justice system works. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to provide mental health education and training for detention deputies and health care staff.

Child Provider Specialists (CPS) provides comprehensive psychological services to children in the South Florida area. CPS has its main office at the Miami Children's Hospital Dan Marino Center in Weston Florida. Here, we as psychologists provide an integrated approach to providing services to children and families with numerous related specialties including Neurologists, Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational and Physical Therapists, and Educational Interventionists. Interns will enjoy a rich experience in which they will work hand in hand with highly experienced psychologists in developing their skill base in neuropsychological assessment, consultation, parent and professional education, and psychotherapeutic techniques (group, family and individual). Our primary supervisor of diagnostic services, Sheri Silverman, Psy.D. has over 15 years of experience in testing. Our supervisor of psychotherapeutic services, Margarita Gurri, Ph.D. has over 23 years of experience as well. In addition to the primary supervisors, support will be available at all times in that we encourage a collegial team environment with at least one licensed professional from our organization being available to interns and overseeing their work.

One day each week (Monday) cases will be presented for case review with a senior psychologist present in an individual and/or group format. Interns will also be provided with 4 to 6 hours per week of direct supervision when engaged with patients (either in the testing or therapy situations). The supervisors will also be available for one on one consults one morning each week to assist as needed. It is anticipated that as the skills of the interns increase, they will be provided more flexibility to handle more and more complex cases and work more closely with related professionals within our center in an integrated team format.

Within a short time following the intern's acceptance on Match Notification Day, all interns are invited to spend several hours with us to arrange for their site assignment. The supervising psychologists inform the interns, as a group, about the available training sites. The interns then rank order their preferences. Each intern meets with the site representatives, current interns, the site supervising psychologists and the DOT (sitting as the selection committee), where they ask questions regarding sites and give their reasons for being placed at their preferred site. Site supervisors and interns have the opportunity to share needs and interests in order to determine the most appropriate site placement. The selection committee makes the final decision regarding placement.

Although the Consortium endeavors to place the intern in his/her first or second choice, the process of negotiation is between the selection committee and the intern. The Director of Training serves as moderator/facilitator, as needed. This process has worked well, satisfying both interns and site supervisors since the inception of the program. However, should a situation arise in which no agreement is reached, the decision of the Operations Committee is binding on all parties.

Applicants considered for the South Florida Consortium Internship Program must be enrolled in an APA-accredited program in clinical or counseling psychology. In addition, they must have completed a minimum of two years of residential doctoral-level training, including at least 600 hours of supervised clinical practicum experience. Approval of a dissertation proposal or final research project by the time of acceptance of an internship is preferred. Priority is given to Nova Southeastern University students and applicants from South Florida APA accredited doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology.

The quality of each applicant is assessed on the basis of review of the completed application materials and a personal interview by two or more evaluators.

The application materials required of each applicant consists of:

6. A brief statement summarizing the applicant's interest in psychology, experience, training, internship training goals, long-range professional goals, and reasons for applying to the Consortium Internship Program.

The deadline for receipt of all application materials is November 15, 2006. Internship offers are made in compliance with APPIC guidelines. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant. Application materials should be requested from and returned to:

The SFCIP reviews all applications and invites acceptable applicants for personal interviews. The applicants are numerically rated and then rank ordered. Acceptable NSU-CPS students are ranked above applicants from other South Florida schools.

Other than Broward General Medical Center, the interns become the employee of their training site. The intern receives a stipend of $14,000 for a 12-month period, in addition to paid vacation, sick leave and other all other benefits accorded to employees of their assigned site. In addition to benefits provided by the training site, interns should be covered for health insurance, liability insurance and other fringe benefits as determined by policies provided by their school.

In the case of Broward General Medical Center, the intern is funded as an employee of NSU-CPS. The stipend is also $14,000. The intern receives all benefits accorded to NSU-CPS employees.

The Nova Southeastern University's Center for Psychological Studies is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The area is noted for its year-round mild climate, beaches, resorts, and outdoor recreational activities. With easy accessibility to downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami, there are many cultural resources including libraries and philharmonics, ballet, and theatrical companies.

There are several universities and colleges in the Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County area. Lectures and workshops by visiting scholars from a wide range of fields are frequent. Living expenses are relatively reasonable, and one can choose from living situations ranging from rural to suburban to beachfront. All of this makes for an excellent environment within which to spend a year of training.

Nova Southeastern University accepts applicants of any race, color, sex, age, non-qualifying disability, religion or creed, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loans programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Nova Southeastern University to award bachelors, masters, educational specialists, and doctoral degrees. Nova Southeastern University accepts applicants of any race, color, sex, age, non-qualifying disability, religion or creed, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

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Revised: October 24, 2006.